The criminal justice system in Illinois can often feel like a jigsaw puzzle, full of interlocking laws, policies, and eccentricities that can be overwhelming even to experienced advocates. Over the next few months, Restore Justice will publish a series of “Know More” posts. Each post...

Restore Justice receives hundreds of letters from individuals incarcerated in Illinois prisons who wish to know more about what is going on in the Illinois legislature in general and, in particular, if there is any current or pending legislation that might affect their case or their...

BY: The Restore Justice Team
Last Thursday, Restore Justice held its second annual Stories of Second Chances lunch at Proxi, a new restaurant managed by renowned restaurateur Emmanuel Nony. The sold-out event gave our 102 guests a chance to learn about critical issues faced by people...

When a person in Illinois is convicted of certain crimes, up to twenty-five years may be added to their sentence if a firearm was used to commit the offense. In some cases, firearm enhancements can even exceed the punishment for the underlying crime.
Punishing firearm crimes...

BY: Jobi Cates, Founder & Executive Director, Restore Justice
She was probably in her 80s; clear, dark skin, perfectly coiffed hair. Peach colored dress. Quick with a smile. A younger woman, a daughter, maybe, was helping her along.
Everyone in line with the lady-in-peach, including me,...

By: Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie
Starting with Miller v. Alabama, the United States Supreme Court crafted new protections for youthful offenders facing long criminal sentences. The Court recognized advances in brain science that show young people tend to lack impulse control; many are...

Like many who work on social justice issues, Restore Justice staff, board and partners are still absorbing the full implications of a Donald Trump administration.
Over the last eight years, many resources and attention has focused on federal policy hoping that the federal reform would provide...

By: Shayna Farmelant, Intern, Restore Justice
Published in Medium
I should have been scared to visit prison. I say that because all of my life I’ve been told that prisoners are evil. But, are they? There is, of course, the obvious answer that they are because they...

By: Jobi Cates, President & Founder, Restore Justice
Originally Published in the Huffington Post
If you were lucky enough to know Abner Mikva, you know that if he decided to focus on solving a problem, that problem was going to get solved. So in late 2012, when...